Thematic expert webinar series
The Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management (GFA), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2023, provides the first internationally agreed framework dedicated to the sustainable, safe and secure management of conventional ammunition throughout its life cycle. Addressing the dual risks of unplanned explosions at munition sites and illicit diversion, the GFA’s first Meeting of States is scheduled for 2027 and represents a critical opportunity for States to review implementation and adopt action-oriented recommendations.
To support preparations for this milestone, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and UNIDIR’s Conventional Weapons Programme are co-organizing a series of four closed-door thematic expert webinars. This initiative is funded by the European Union under Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2565.
Discussions will be grounded in operational and national implementation experiences. The webinars will bring together multistakeholder technical audiences to share concrete practices, lessons learned and priority support needs across the core thematic areas of the GFA. Key findings and recommendations from all four sessions will be consolidated into a single analytical report, translated into French and Spanish, to directly inform substantive preparations for the 2027 Meeting of States.
When and where
The consultations will be held virtually via Zoom. Discussions will follow a closed-door expert format with facilitated breakout groups and report-backs. The sessions are scheduled for:
- Webinar 1: Ensuring sustainability in through-life conventional ammunition management – Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online
- Webinar 2: Preventing unplanned explosions at munition sites (safety) – Wednesday, 30 September 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online
- Webinar 3: Preventing and investigating ammunition diversion (security) – Tuesday, 13 October 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online
- Webinar 4: Prioritising and structuring future technical work under the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management – Wednesday, 28 October 2026 | 09:00–12:00 EDT | Online
Check your local time here.
Participation
UNIDIR and UNODA welcome the engagement of technical experts, national authorities, international and regional organizations, civil society, industry representatives and researchers working within the field of conventional ammunition management.
Please note that participation in this series is by invitation only. However, if you are an expert or institutional representative interested in contributing to one or more of these consultations, you are welcome to reach out directly to the project focal point, Dr Theò Bajon, at theo.bajon@un.org.